Mechanical musical instrument.



Patented June 4, l90l.

No. 675,55l. I

E. W. APPLEGATE.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed my 11, 1900-) (No Model.) 3 Shoots-Sheet 2.

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No. 875,55l. Patented Juno 4, 1901.

E. w.- APPLEGATE. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Applicltion filed Kay 11, 1900.

3 Shuts-Shut 3.-'.

(No Model.)

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Ya: mum: rerun a1. mum wnsnmmou u c U TED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

EUGENE w. APPLEGATE, or CHIOAGOQILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, Y MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUGUST HEUER, JR, AND CHARLES L. DAVIS, OF

SAME PLACE.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 67 5,551, dated June 4, 1901.

' VApplioation filed May 11, 1900 Serial No. 16,315. (No model.

To all whom it mcty-coltcern:

Be it known that LEUGENE W. APPLEGATE,

a citizen of the United States, residing atOhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Musical Instruments, (Case No. 3,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mechanicalpianoplayers which can be operated so as to strike the keys of pianos or like instruments, and thereby cause the mechanical playing of the same. A e Mechanical piano-players of the kind to which I refer are provided with a series of striking-fingers which are arranged so as to come in position over the keys of a pianokeyboard when the player is set against the front of the piano and which are mounted so that theycan be independently depressed, so

I a tracker-board. 3.

as to strike their allotted keys. sion of the various keys at proper times to play various compositions is caused by suitable pneumatic devices, which are in turn operated by the admission of airthrough ports formed in a long board, commonly called The admission of air to these ports is controlled by sheets or strips of paper, which are drawn oneby one across the trackerrboard and which are provided with apertures so situated as to admit air into the proper ports for actuating the piano-keys, so

as to play different musicalcompositions.

The sheets or strips of music for mechanical piano-players,properly'perforated to control the admission of air into the ports of the tracker-board, are carried. by Spools or bobbins, upon w hich they are wound for ship- Inentand storage. 1 In the operationof' the player these sheets .or strips are drawn sue? cessively across the tracker-board by being slowly unwoundfrom their spools and wound upon a suitable reel or roll, which may be called a storage reelior roll.

tice of the present. dayafter a sheet orstrip of music has thus been transferred from its spoolto the storagemeel it is thenand there The depres In the'prac immediately retransferred to its spool by rotating the latter in a reverse direction, so as to rewind the sheet or strip upon it. As a result thepersons listening to the music must wait a few minutes between each piece for the operator to rewind the played strip before he can insert and connect a spool carrying a fresh strip.

It is a primary object of my invention to avoid the inconvenienceand loss of time incident to thus rewinding each played strip before introducing a new one.

In the arrangement hereinafter shown for carrying out my invention I provide a second storage reel or roll, upon which a second sheet or strip of music can be wound immediately after the first one has been drawn across the tracker-board, and I arrange for the rewinding or rerolling of the first-played strip upon its reelsimultaneously with the" drawing of thesecond strip across the board. In this Way as each strip is drawn across the tracker-board the previously-played strip is being wound upon-its spool. Consequently the'compositions can be played without any intervening delays. In the arrangement shown the two storage-reels upon which the successive music-strips are, wound aremade interchangeable in position in the rear of the tracker-board, so that the strips can all have the same path of travel in passing over the tracker-board. I also arrange for repeating any desired composition. I

My invention also contemplates other matters hereinafter setforth. 7 In" theaccoin'panying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a device of the class specified embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are end 1 views of the same, Fig. 2 looking at the righthandjend of'Fig. l and Fig.3 at thelefthand end of thesame. Fig.4 is a plan of a portion of the device onra larger scale, and

Figs 5 to8 are views-of details of construe.

tion;

. In the drawings thetracker-board of the piano-player is illustrated at A, Fig. Land is provided with transversely-extending apertures 11. This tracker-board, it'will be understood, issuitably mounted in the piano- 1 player and has its apertures connected with our simultaneously with the driving of the pneumatic apparatus therein in the ordinary reel 0, receiving the played strip B. In opor any suitable way. As such player and its crating the device, therefore, a spool or bob- 7o mechanismform no part of my present invenbin D is fitted into the sockets of the arms 5 tion, neither one has been shown herein. 4 4, and the end of-the music-strip B, carried The drawings show a sheet or strip B of by such bobbin, is attached to the reel 0. music being moved across the tracker-board This reel is then rotated, so as to draw the A, so as to control the admission of air into the strip B properly across the tracker board. 75 tracker-board ports. This advancement of the When this hasbeen done, the spool D is re- 16 music is caused by driving or rotatinga stormoved from the sockets of the arms 4 4 and age-reel C, so as to wind the strip upon it and placed inthe sockets at the ends of the arms unwind the same from the spool or bobbin D, 5 5, and the swinging frame carryingthe reels which normallycarries it.- The drawings,Fig. O and E is swung so as to bring the reel 8o 2, also show another sheet or strip of music into cooperating position with this spool when B, which is understood to have been played it is supported by the arms 5 5 and also to previously to the playing of the strip B. The bring the storage-reel E in position immedistrip B is shown as being unwound from a ately in the rear of the tracker-board A. second storage-reel E and wound upon a spool A spool carrying a second strip of music is 85 or bobbin F. The spool F isthe one normally then inserted in the sockets of the arms 4 4 carrying this strip B, and the storage-reelE and its end connected with the reel E. The is the reelupon which this strip was wound reelE and the first-mentioned spool, which is in order to draw it across the tracker-board. now supported by the arrns5 5,are then driven Therewindi'n'g of the strip B is accomplished so as to simultaneously draw the second strip 90 by rotating its spool F. In this way itv will across the tracker-board and at the same time 2 5 be seen that a played strip can be wound sirewind the first strip upon its spool D. When multaneously with the playing of a new one the second strip has been drawn across the and the delay and inconvenience incident to tracker-board and the first one has been re the separate rewinding of such played strip 7 wound, the spool of the former is placed in 95 can be avoided. the sockets at the ends of the arms 5 5 and the The storage-reels C and E are desirably swinging frame carrying the reels 0 and E mounted so that they can be interchanged are interchanged inposition. In the drawin position in the rear of the tracker-board, ings, especially in Figs. 2 and 3, the strip B ,a simple arrangement being to mount them can be considered as representing such a sec- 100 upon a swinging frame consisting of a rotary ond'strip and. the spool F the spool which car- 3 5 disk 2 and a swinging arm 3. A holder for ried it and which has been transferred from the spool or bobbin D, carrying the strip B the'sockets of the arms 4 4 to the-position of music being played, is arranged'in front shown at the ends of the arms 5 5. The end of the tracker-board, so as to 'cooperatewith of the strip B is then attached to its spool F. .105

whichever one ofthe storage-reels Gand E'is A spool carrying the third strip is next fas- 40 in foremost or drawing position. The holder tened in the sockets at the'ends of the arms shown consists of a couple of arms 4 4,. pro- 4 4, and the end of this strip is attached to the vided with a fixed and a spring socket to re reel 0, which isnnderstood to be now emptied ceive the ends ofthe spool-spindle. Aholder of the first strip by the rewinding of such no for the spool or bobbin'F, carrying the strip strip upon its spooh In the drawings the B of music being rewound,is arrangedin posi spool D represents snch athird spool and the I tion't'o cooperate with the storage-reel E after strip B a fresh strip carried by the same.

. such reel has been. swung out of receiving The spool F and reel 0 are then driven so as" position and replacedby the reel 0. A simtorewind the second strip B and to draw the 115w f ple arrangement of holder is to extend a pair third strip B across the tracker-board. This 3 5o"0f arms 5 5v upwardly and rearwardly from operation is continuedas long as desired,.thethe framework 6 and to provide them, respecspool of each strip after the playing of the i ti-v'ely, with a fixed and a spring socket for restrip being transferred to the rear ofthe del I cei-vingtheopposite'en'ds oflthespool-spindle. vice,- thestorage-reels'being shifted in posi- 12.o- {Bysuch arrangement it"will be seenthat'after tion and a fresh strip being inserted in the 1 5 5 the. spool D,f carrying asheet or'strip of musockets in front of the tracker-board-and at,- r r (sic B to be played, is fitted into the sockets tached to the empty storage-rest] jprovided-by the arms 44;,its loose'endcanibe Y As an arrangement for driving whichever I c attachedto thereel' C',as.bythe.pin'c,andaone of the'storage-re'els is in receiving posir25 then this reelfO can be'turne'd so aslto draw tionlh'ave shown, Fig. 1, the ends of the storthe stripB-propjerly'acr'ossthe tracker-board.- age-reels 0 and E, provided withgear-wheels I It will also be seenth'at a spool Fo'f a previ-" 7 and 8, respectively,:and have also shown-the easily-played strip B,cari beIfittedE-into the driving-pinion9 mounted so as to mesh'with 'hclder "providediby tlre'1arms'5..5, and this and drive either one of the gears 7 and 8, etc-"1 o spool F can, be turned'so as. tolwithdraw the cording as one or the other of thereelsC and 5 strip B? from the reeLE. [This rotation of the E isin forwardposition. The pinion 9 is carspool F to rewind or reroll the previously ried by a shaft lO, and this shaft is driven by p I played strip Bcan andpreferablydoes oc va belt ll, passing over the wheel 12 on the shaft 10. The belt 11 is understood to be driven by any suitable power mechanism, usually by an air-motor in the case of mechanical piano-players.

In order to allow the shaft to remain stationary, as when itis desired to place the spool carrying a fresh strip in position, and fit this strip over the tracker-board, I arrange the wheel 12 upon a spline 13, Fig. 8, fitted to the shaft 10, so that when the wheel 12 is moved sufficiently to the right it engages the spline 13, and thereby rotates the shaft 10, whereas when it is moved to the left it will become disengaged from the spline and will rotate freely about the shaft 10 without rotating the latter. I provide a lever 14 for moving the driving-wheel12 upon the shaft 10.

As an arrangement for simultaneously driving the spool of the previously-played strip when the same is supported in the sockets at r the ends of the arms 5 5. I arrange (see Fig.

-the arms 5 5 will be rotated, so as to simul 1) a pulley 15 on the end of one of the sockets and extend a belt 16 over this pulley 15 and also over the pulley I7, loose on theshaft 10. I also arrange a pin 18 upon the wheel 17 and also provide a pin 19 on the hub of the wheel 12, adapted to engage the pin'1'8 when said wheel 12 is moyed sufficiently to the right, Fig. 4. In this way when the driving-wheel is moved sufficiently to the right to engage the spline 13, and thereby drive the shaftlO, the driven or receiving storage-reel will be properly driven to cause the playing of the strip of music, and by movingthe same Wheel 12 still farther to the right, so as to cause it to engage the wheel 17, aspool supported by taneously, rewind the previously-played strip uponit..

The mechanism for rewinding the previously-played stripthat is to say, the pulleys 15 and 17 and belt 16 in this case is desirably so arrangedas to causethe rewinding to occur at a rate of speed more rapid than that atwhich the playing-strip is advanced over the tracker-board. In the arrangement shown the pulley 17 is smallerthan the pulley 15. By such arrangement a previouslyplayed strip longer than the one being. played can'bererolled before or as soon as the playing of the latter is completed. It will be understood,of course, that-as soon as a strip lias'become fully rewound its end will become detached from the'rcel E by sliding olf from the small hook with which said reel is pro:

vided intheway now common' inthe operation of 'instruments' ofthis kind."

ln 'case the two'stripsyare of substantially the same length or of any suchother relative lengths as to cause the previously-played strip I eto become 'rerolled before the playing of the '5 other strip is completed ithefrerolling mach anism is disconnected', andtherebystopped,

without interfering with the playing.

I alsodesirably arrange so thata piece of 1 music once playedcan be played again. 3T0

such end I provide meausfor rotating the spool carrying the playing-strip, so that this strip can be drawnbackward and then again drawn forward over the tracker-board. The arrangement shown for this purpose comprises a pulley-wheel 20, loose on the shaft 10, and another pulley 21 on the spindle 22, forming an extension of one of the sockets for supporting the spool carrying the playing-strip. A belt 23 is extended over the pul ley-Wheels and 21. The wheel 20 is provided with a pin 24, adapted to engage a pin on the side of the driving-wheel 12. By such arraugem ent when the wheel 12 is moved sufficiently to the left to cause the pins 24: and 25 to become engaged the wheel 20 will be driven and the spool D will be rotated in a backward direction. This rotation can be continued until the strip of music is rolled upon it, at which time the backward rotation will be stopped. The driving-wheel 12 will thenbe moved to the right to an extent to cause it to engage the spline 13 on the shaft 10, whereby said shaft will be again driven in a direction todraw the strip of music over the tracker-board.

I desirably provide a standard H below the lever 14c for moving the driving-wheel12 and form at the end of this standard notches h, adapted to engage a catch on the lever, and thereby hold the latter in proper adjusted positions. These notches h are provided with suitable Words showing the operation of the device when the lever is adjusted to coincide with them. These words are Reroll, Play, Idle, and Release. adjusted tothe word Reroll, the device will both drawthe playing-strip across the trackerboard and'reroll a previously-played strip. When adjusted to the word Play, it will draw astripacross the board without operating the rerolling mechanism. When adjusted to the word Idle, the driving mechanism will? be disconnected from both the playing and the rerollin g mechanisms and the devicewill not operate. When adjusted to the word Release, thespool carrying the playing-strip will be rotated in a reverse direction, so as to rewind the playing-strip on its spool, and thereby allow its repetition.

I desirablyprovide means whereby the storage-reelcan be automatically disconnected from its driving-connection. This is convenientlydone by actuatingthe swinging frame carrying the storage-reels so as to elevate'its forward portion, and thereby throw theone of thegears-7 and 8 in mesh with the pinion 9 out of'mesh therewith. This is desirably accomplished by the lever let in its movement from the notch marked Idle to the one marked Release. In the arrangement 'shown forthis purpose the lever 14 is pro vided with along finger 27, which is extended downwardly therefrom,-and this finger 27 acts when the lever is swung sidewise upon a lug or projection 28 on a rod 29, extended horizontally across the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. The end of the rod 29 is connected ICO 21?, and'means fori-holding the spool of the m-u sic-strip to be drawn across, the board;-of a' :couple of storage-reels; means whereby the 12d "-ving' ofithed wingdevi'c 6;samecan'be'interchangedin position toieoop I in the disk 2. Bysuch arrangement the elevas Vation of the slide '31 will rotate the disk 2 a small extent, and thereby throw the one of the gear-wheels 7 and 8 meshing with the pinion 9 out of mesh therewith. The slide 31' is held normally in a lowered condition by a spring 33, Fig. 2. It will be understood that this'release or disconnection of the activestorage-reel occurs immediately upon the movement of the lever 14 to its extreme right or the release position, and after this isdone the lever is returned immediately to the idle position, so that the mechanism for driving the spool D in a reverse direction does not have time to operate. If it isdesired to rotate the spool D backward, the lever 14 is held at vthe I release position as ufficient length of'time'to x accomplishthat end. I -I -With reference to the structure of the de-' vice it will be understood that the arms 4 4 and 5 5 are extended from suitable framepieces 6 '6, arranged on opposite sid-es-of the swinging frame carrying the s-torage-ree1s,and

that these'frame-pieces -6 6 servegas supportsfor the axisor shaft 35 35 of the swinging 1 frame. It will 'also be-iunderstood that the,

for the playing of the music after the reroll-fl ing of the previously-played strip 'hasbeen;

completed, and for the repeatingof anystri p 4 I r Y a '8. Thecombination and'sockets for holding a spool for music;'o a couple of storage-reels; 'a rotatable frame smeanszand the reWind -i-ngmeans. I l '2. Thecombinationwiththetrack'ei board;

' of acouple 0t storage reelseither oneof which can receive a strip of musi'cfrom the tracker looard; means for driving whichever one of.

frame-pieces '6 6 are mounted'uponfa suitable support. :36, which isarra-ngedandse- I cured alponthe' top of the piano pla'yer with T which the devicejis associated. a I

From the foregoing it will-be seen that my 1 invention provides for the rerollingof sheet of music immediately after it has'heen played desired." 7 r What I claim as my invention is-l mu'ltaneously operating both the'drawin g.

I i said reels-is receiving the strip andmeans forjrotating. aspool of a previously-played s tri p, simultaneously with I the dri'v-jng of the idrivenstorage-reel.

The combination with the tracker-board spindle." I II I '7. Thecombinationwit-lithetraekeroa and means for holding'a music-spool; of a 1 couple.ofstorage re'els; and means for inter- "changeably supportingsaid feels in position the rewinding m'ean's at; anyj med-urin' is in drawing position; a support for a spool of a previously-playedstrip, arranged to allow said spool to cooperate with the undriven reel; and means for driving said'spool.

4. The combination with the tracker-board, and means for holding amusic-carrying spool detachably in front of the same; a swinging frame carrying a couple of reels, and adapted to allow either one of said reels tobe placed in the rear of the tracker-board so as to cooperate with the spool in front of the same to draw a strip across such board; means for drivingwhichever reel on said frame is in position to cooperatewith said spool; and means for simultaneously driving a second spool so as to rewind a previously-played strip 5. The combination with the tracker-board; of means for drawing a sheet or strip of music across the same; and means'for'simultaneously ,rewiuding a previously played strip .at a greater rate of speed than that at which.

the first-mentioned strip is drawn across the tracker-board. I

-6. The-combination with the tracker-board,

'of a support for a spool on one sideof the same; a swinging frame carrying a couple of storage-reels, said frame being so mounted that by swinging it the reels can be interchanged in position on the. side of the trackerboard opposite the spool; gear-wheels on said reels; a driving-pinion adapted to mesh with the gear'on whichever one of the reels is in draw in g position; a spindle carrying asocket adapted to engage a spool of a previouslyplayed strip; .tion fordrivingboi-h' said pinion and said holder .ror the spool. j r

with his maker-board;

a pinion adapted to. mesh with either one or, I v

position ofth rotatable frame; means for Q 1 A driving said pinion};- acouple of sockets adapted and positioned for .holdingfa's'pool toco operate with the inactivestorage-reel;.and 7. I 1126, of the sockets tor the "spool of a previousl-yst the other" of the gear-wheels according to the;

power-transmitting connectionjbetweenlone played strip and; said'ipinion,

9; The combinat'o'n with thetracker-boa dQ I- and means fordrawing agstrip of musicaeross ,f same; 10 est a e means or ewin ins p ev lyiplayd str p; andlmea sj for :dri ing the drawing nieans, ,flpfi lals'ozfordrir" a t on-withthetrackr mo and power-transmitting connec-- on the side of the tracker-boardopposite the IIO I of a rotatable frame carrying the'same;

means for driving either one of the storagereels according as one or the other is in driving position; a holder for the spool of a previously-played strip, said holder being arranged in position to cooperate with the undriven storage-reel; means for actuating said holder so as to drive said spool; and mechanism for connecting and disconnecting said driving means at will without disconnecting the means for driving the driven storage-reel.

12. The combination with twostorage-reels;

of a rotatable frame carrying the same; gear-' wheels on said reels; a rotary shaft carrying a pinion adapted to gear with one or the other of the gears on said reels, according to the reel which is in driving position; sockets for the spool of the previously-played strip of music, one of said sockets being provided with a pulley; another pulley on the shaft carrying said pinion; a belt extending over said pulleys; and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the pulley on said shaft with the same.

13. The combination with the tracker-board, and means for drawing a strip of music across the same; of means for rerolling a previouslyplayed strip; means for reversing and rewinding the playing-strip; and means for driving either the rerolling or rewinding means at will.

14. The combination with the tracker-board and a holder for a music-strip spool; of a couple of storage-reels; means whereby said reels can be interchanged in position on the side of the tracker-board opposite the holder for the playing music-strip; means for driving whichever one of said reels is in position to codperate with said holder; a holder for the spool of a previously-played strip, said v last-mentioned holder being adapted and positioned to cooperate with the undriven storage-reel; means for driving the spool of the playing-strip in a reverse direction; means for driving the spool of the previously-played strip; mechanism for actuating the last-ment-ioned driving means simultaneously with the driving of the driven storage-reel; and mechanism for disconnecting the means for driving the driven storage a reel when the means for reversing the spool of the playingstrip is actuated.

15. Thecombinationwith'the tracker=board; of a couple of storage-reels; a rotatable frame carrying the same; gearing for driving either one of said reels according as one or the other is in driving position; a rotary driving-shaft for driving said gearing; a socket for holding the spool of the previously-played strip; power'transmittmg connection for driving said socket-spindle from said rotary shaft; a

spindle carrying-a socket for the spool of the playing-strip; power-transmitting connection for driving said spindlefrom said rotary driving-shaft; and a clutch member on said shaft, said clutch being adapted to engage and drive the rotary shaft, and also to allow the same to remain stationary, and also being adapted to engage either the power-transmitting connection for driving the spool of the previously-played strip, or the power-transmitting connection for reversing the playing-strip, the engagement of the transmitting connection for driving the previously-played strip occurring at a time when the clutch is in engagement with the shaft for driving the driven storage-reel.

16. The combination with the rotatable frame carrying the reels; of power-transmitting connection for driving whichever one of said reels is in driving position; means for starting and stopping said power-transmit ting connection; and means for automatically disconnecting the same.

17. The combination with the rotatable frame carrying the storage-reels; of a slide having a pin adapted to engage notches on one side of the frame; a bell-crank for-operating said slide; arod for operating the bellcrank; and a swinging lever having a finger adapted to engage a lug on said rod.

18. The combination with the tracker-board, and the sockets for holding the spool of the playing-strip; of a rotatable frame carrying a couple of storage-reels; gear-wheels on said reels; a driving-shaft carrying a pinion adapt ed to engage with either of said gear-wheels according as one or the other of the storagereels is in driving position; a pair of sockets for the spool of a previously-played strip; power-transmitting connection between the spindle of one of said sockets and said driving-shaft; power-transmitting connection between said driving-shaft and one of the spindles of the spool of the playing-strip for driving said spool; a driving-wheel normally loose on its shaft, and adapted to engage the same when shifted longitudinally of the shaft; a clutch on said driving-wheel adapted to engage the power-transmitting connection for driving the spool of the previously-played strip, said engagement occurring at a time when said driving-wheel is in engagement with the driving-shaft, and another clutch member on said driving-Wheel adapted to engage the power-transmitting connection for reversing the spool of the playing-strip, said engagementloccurring at a time when said driving-wheel is disconnected from the driving shaft, substantially as described.

19. The combination withthe tracker-board, of means for drawing a music-strip across the same, and means for rewinding a previouslyplayed strip without drawing such strip across the tracker-board.

20. The combination with a tracker-board,

IIO

of a pair of spools arranged one in front and I first-mentioned pair and the spool of the other the other in the rear of the tracker-board, a pair farthest therefrom. to second pair of spools one of which is arranged In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe m y near the rear spool of the other pair, means nan e this 17th day of April, A..D. 1-900.

for interchangeably supporting the rear spool EUGENE W. APPLEGATE. of the first-mentioned pair and the spool of Witnesses the other pair nearest thereto, and means for A. MILLER BELEIELD,

simultaneously driving the rear spool of the HARVEY L. HANSON. 

